Lily plant named Sorbonne

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lily plant named ‘Sorbonne’ characterized by having soft, pinkish-red color, white flower tips, upright flowers, and vigorous growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of lilyplant, botanically known as Lilium L., and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Sorbonne’.

‘Sorbonne’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new lily cultivars having large, upright flowers.

‘Sorbonne’ was originated from a hybridization made by the inventor in acontrolled breeding program in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands in 1985. Themale and female parents were unnamed seedlings of Lilium L. orientalhybrids. Both parents are proprietary cultivars used in the breedingprogram.

‘Sorbonne’ was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by the inventor, Cees A. van der Voort, onJun. 7, 1988 in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sorbonne’ was accomplishedwhen scales were taken from the initial selection in October 1988 in acontrolled environment in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands by, or under thesupervision of, Cees A. van der Voort. Horticultural examination ofselected units initiated in May, 1988 has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Sorbonne’ arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Sorbonne’ which in combination distinguishthis lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. soft, pinkish red-color;    -   2. white flower tips;    -   3. upright flowers; and    -   4. vigorous growth habit.

‘Sorbonne’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without any change in genotype. The following observations,measurements, and values describe the new cultivar as in theexperimental research station CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, the Netherlandsunder conditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, no othercultivars are similar in comparison to ‘Sorbonne’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical plant andflower characteristics of ‘Sorbonne’, with colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined between 12 am and 2 pm in July, 1993 at the Dutchexperimental research station CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

-   Origin: Seedling from breeding program.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unnamed seedling.        -   Male parent.—Unnamed seedling.-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—A hybrid of the genus Lilium L.        -   Commercial.—Oriental Lily cv. ‘Sorbonne’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—A single stem carrying numerous, alternately arranged            pedicels.        -   Height.—Medium to high for the mature plant, approximately            120 cm, depending on cultivation conditions.-   Growth habit: Vigorous: from the start of vegetation to the    beginning of the first flowering takes 90 days depending on    cultivation conditions; approximately 20-30% more vigorous than the    traditional ‘Stargazer’ cultivar.    -   -   Stem.—Circular in transverse section; anthocyanin            pigmentation absent; internodal length 6.8 cm, depending on            the cultivation conditions of the cultivar.        -   Foliage.—Quantity: Approximately 70. Size of leaf: Average            length is 10-12 cm, average width is 4 cm, depending on            cultivation conditions. Shape of leaf: Generally ovate.            Color: Medium green RHS 135A.        -   Bulb.—Size: 16 to 18 cm in circumference. Color: White RHS            157B with pink shades.-   Bud:    -   -   Form.—Tapering like a lancet.        -   Size.—Medium, 11 cm in length depending on cultivation            conditions.        -   Opening.—Unfolds normally.        -   Color.—Pinkish-green; light-pink, RHS 62 B, just before            opening.        -   Tepals.—Folded, three visible.-   Flower:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Raceme.        -   Size.—Medium, 20 cm in diameter depending on cultivation            conditions.        -   Borne.—Upright to horizontal along a longitudinal axis.        -   Shape.—Generally, hexagonal star in form and bowl-shaped in            cross-section.        -   Tepalage.—Number of Tepals: 6 Arrangement: Three inner and            three outer. Color: Upper surface: Pinkish-red inner throat,            RHS 64D; mid-vein is green, RHS 144D fading to white. Lower            surface: Pink, RHS 62B.        -   Spotting or marking.—Spots and markings are present, dark            pink in color RHS 61A.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Medium, 10 cm long.        -   Color.—Soft pink, RHS 65A, at the tips of the tepals fading            to white.        -   Form.—Tapering like a lancet.        -   Texture.—Papillose.        -   Disease resistance.—Average in comparison to the disease            resistance level of traditional Lily cultivars.        -   Fragrance.—Weak.        -   Lasting quality.—Excellent; i.e., the average lasting period            is at least 21 days, when cut and kept in a controlled            climate in conformity with Dutch Auctions and Research            Station standards.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens and anthers.—Arrangements: Anthers form a generally            circular pattern at their upper ends. Number: 6. Length:            Medium length depending on cultivation conditions. Filaments            Color: Green RHS 145D.        -   Pollen color.—Orange-brown RHS 173B.        -   Anther color.—Orange-brown RHS 173B.        -   Pistils.—Green RHS 143C.        -   Stigma.—Purple RHS 186B.        -   Ovaries.—Triangular in shape.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lily plant named ‘Sorbonne’ having avigorous growth habitat and upright, pink flowers, as illustrated anddescribed herein.